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Curt Miller

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Curt Miller
Miller in 2019
Dallas Wings
PositionExecutive Vice President and General Manager
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1968-10-05) October 5, 1968 (age 56)[1]
Girard, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Career information
CollegeBaldwin Wallace
Career history
As coach:
1991–1994Cleveland State (assistant)
1994–1998Syracuse (assistant)
1998–2001Colorado State (assistant)
2001–2012Bowling Green
2012–2014Indiana
2015Los Angeles Sparks (assistant)
2016–2022Connecticut Sun
2023–2024Los Angeles Sparks
Career highlights and awards

Curt Miller (born October 6, 1968)[2] is an American basketball executive and coach who is the Executive Vice-President and General Manager of the Dallas Wings of the WNBA. He most recently served as the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks from 2023–2024. Other previous head coaching positions include the Connecticut Sun (2016–2022), Bowling Green State University (2001–2012), and Indiana University (2012–2014). Miller also served as an assistant coach to Brian Agler with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2015.

Assistant coaching career

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Miller served as an assistant coach at Colorado State, helping the school to an 81–20 (.802) overall record during his three seasons there. He also served as an assistant at Cleveland State and Syracuse.

On March 31, 2015, the Los Angeles Sparks hired Miller as an assistant coach.[3]

Head coaching career

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Bowling Green

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During his tenure at Bowling Green he compiled a 258–92 record including 135–41 in the Mid-American Conference. He was named MAC Coach of the Year 6 times, and won the conference regular season title 8 straight times between 2005–2012. His best season came in 2006 when he led the Falcons to a 31–4 mark, including a sweet sixteen appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Indiana University

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When Miller was negotiating a contract extension with Bowling Green in 2005, he included a "dream clause" in which Miller could list a few of his personal destination jobs.[4] The Indiana Hoosiers were on that list and, when an opening for head women's basketball coach occurred at the school in 2012, he applied for and got the position. Miller signed a six-year deal worth $275,000 a year. Miller resigned on July 25, 2014 citing health and family reasons.[5]

Connecticut Sun

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After one season as an assistant with the Los Angeles Sparks, Miller returned to the head coaching ranks. He was announced as the new head coach of the Connecticut Sun on December 17, 2015.[6] On September 2, 2016, Sun announced that Miller would also assume the role of general manager.[7] In his second season with the Sun in 2017 he was named WNBA Coach of the Year[8] and the inaugural WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year.[9] His 2019 team made the WNBA finals but lost to the Washington Mystics in five games.[10] The Sun were knocked out in the Semifinals in 2020. His 2021 team finished the regular season in first place with a 26–6 record,[11] but were upset in the Semifinals by the Chicago Sky.[12] He was named WNBA Coach of the Year for the second time in 2021.[13] His 2022 team made the WNBA finals once again, but lost to the Las Vegas Aces in four games.[14]

While working with the Sun, Miller was "the first openly gay, male coach in college or professional basketball".[15]

Los Angeles Sparks

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On October 17, 2022, Miller was announced as the new head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks.[16]

On September 24, 2024, Miller parted ways with the Los Angeles Sparks after an 8–32 record on the 2024 season and a 25–55 record over two seasons, with the team missing the WNBA Playoffs both years.[17]

Executive career

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On November 8, 2024, the Dallas Wings had hired Miller to be their Executive Vice-President and General Manager. [18]

Head Coaching Record

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NCAA

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Bowling Green Falcons (Mid-American Conference) (2001–2012)
2001–02 Bowling Green 9–19 6–10 4th (East)
2002–03 Bowling Green 12–16 5–11 T-6th (West)
2003–04 Bowling Green 21–10 11–5 T-2nd (West)
2004–05 Bowling Green 23–8 11–5 1st (West) NCAA 1st Round
2005–06 Bowling Green 28–3 16–0 1st (East) NCAA 1st Round
2006–07 Bowling Green 31–4 16–1 1st (East) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2007–08 Bowling Green 26–8 13–3 1st (East) WNIT Second Round
2008–09 Bowling Green 29–5 15–1 1st (East) WNIT Third Round
2009–10 Bowling Green 27–7 14–2 1st (East) NCAA 1st Round
2010–11 Bowling Green 28–5 13–3 1st (East) NCAA 1st Round
2011–12 Bowling Green 24–7 14–2 1st (East) WNIT First Round
Bowling Green: 258–92 (.737) 135–41 (.767)
Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Conference) (2012–2014)
2012–13 Indiana 11–19 2–14 12th
2013–14 Indiana 21–13 5–11 T-8th WNIT Quarterfinals
Indiana: 32–32 (.500) 7–25 (.219)
Total: 290–124 (.700)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

WNBA

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Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Connecticut Sun 2016 34 14 20 .412 5th in East — — — — Missed Playoffs
Connecticut Sun 2017 34 21 13 .618 2nd in East 1 0 1 .000 Lost in Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
Connecticut Sun 2018 34 21 13 .618 3rd in East 1 0 1 .000 Lost in Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
Connecticut Sun 2019 34 23 11 .676 2nd in East 8 5 3 .625 Lost in WNBA Finals
Connecticut Sun 2020 22 10 12 .455 2nd in East 7 4 3 .571 Lost in Semifinals
Connecticut Sun 2021 32 26 6 .813 1st in East 4 1 3 .250 Lost in Semifinals
Connecticut Sun 2022 36 25 11 .694 2nd in East 12 6 6 .500 Lost in WNBA Finals
Los Angeles Sparks 2023 40 17 23 .425 4th in West — — — — Missed Playoffs
Los Angeles Sparks 2024 40 8 32 .200 5th in West — — — — Missed Playoffs
Career 302 161 141 .533 33 16 17 .485

References

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  1. ^ "NCAA® Career Statistics". Web1.ncaa.org. March 20, 1999. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  2. ^ "Women's Basketball Coaches Career". NCAA. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  3. ^ "Sparks Name Curt Miller Assistant Coach". Archived from the original on May 4, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  4. ^ Hutchens, Terry (March 29, 2012). "Indiana women's basketball: New coach Curt Miller has winning history". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  5. ^ "Indiana women's coach Curt Miller suddenly resigns". Courier-journal.com. July 25, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  6. ^ "It's Official: Connecticut Sun Name Curt Miller Head Coach". Hartford Courant. December 17, 2015. Archived from the original on December 18, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  7. ^ "Curt Miller Assumes Role As Sun GM – Connecticut Sun". sun.wnba.com. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "Sun's Curt Miller named 2017 WNBA Coach of the Year". NBA. September 10, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  9. ^ "Connecticut's Curt Miller Named Inaugural WNBA Basketball Executive Of The Year - WNBA". www.wnba.com. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "Mystics take title in Game 5 behind Elena Delle Donne, Finals MVP Emma Meesseman". ESPN. The Associated Press. October 10, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  11. ^ "WNBA Standings 2021". ESPN. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  12. ^ "Vandersloot leads Sky to 101-95 double OT win over Sun". ESPN. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  13. ^ "Connecticut Sun Head Coach Curt Miller Named 2021 Coach Of the Year". WNBA. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  14. ^ "Aces capture 1st title, eye more: 'Sky's the limit'". ESPN.com. September 18, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  15. ^ Crowley, Brendan (August 17, 2021). "Two Decades Later, Coach Curt Miller Still Stands Alone". CT Examiner. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  16. ^ "After Finals run, Miller leaves Sun to lead Sparks". ESPN.com. October 21, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  17. ^ "Miller out as Sparks head coach after two seasons". ESPN.com. September 24, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  18. ^ "Dallas Wings Name Curt Miller Executive Vice President and General Manager". wings.wnba.com. November 8, 2024.
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